Leadership in the Patriots' locker room was clearly lacking over the last few seasons, particularly from head coaches Bill Belichick and Jerod Mayo. The 2023 season was proof that it was time for the organization to move on from Belichick, while Mayo's 2024 locker room clearly lacked discipline and structure.
New head coach Mike Vrabel is only a week into his first session of OTAs, and in the minds of the players, something is different around Gillette Stadium. And that's undoubtedly a positive thing, given that the Patriots needed a fresh new voice who could relate to his players yet wasn't afraid to offer constructive criticism.
Unfortunately, that latter trait is often taken as "being too harsh" in this era of sports, at all levels, but it's something the Patriots need if they're going to be contenders again. The players know that, and they're raving about it.
Patriots players are already thrilled with Mike Vrabel's coaching
Hunter Henry has been with the Patriots since 2021 and has witnessed a revolving door of head coaches and offensive coordinators. The return of Josh McDaniels to run the offense, which Henry and other players raved about, was another vital move, but Vrabel's voice, on and off the field, has been on display during OTAs.
Vrabel has shown he's not afraid to pull on a practice jersey and mix things up with guys, which could prove essential from a technique standpoint.
"Just briefly being on the field with him has been awesome." Henry told MassLive after a recent practice. "He was a player, so he kind of has that energy like we all do, on the coaching side, he brings a great energy that I think everybody likes.”
The rave reviews didn't stop there from offensive players, as wide receiver DeMario Douglas shared his enthusiasm about Vrabel's arrival and how impactful he has been for the team so far after a practice last week.
“The culture’s different here,” Douglas said. “I love it. Vrabel’s a players’ coach, and he’s on the field with us. We’ve got a head coach that’s on the field with us, man. It’s different. You can tell he’s very in tune to what we’re doing and wants us to be better.”
Vrabel was also the definition of a Swiss army knife during his playing days, occasionally moonlighting as one of Tom Brady's top red-zone threats, catching a touchdown pass in Super Bowls XXXVIII and XXXIX. Cornerback Christian Gonzalez has also been impacted by his coach's energy thus far, noting that Vrabel has been 100 percent authentic.
Will Mike Vrabel's coaching methods translate into wins?
Time will tell if that happens, but if OTAs - and the Patriots' schedule - are any indication, this unit of Patriots already has the makings of a far better unit than stumbled and bumbled to 4-13 records the last two years.
And at the center of that is a talented, enthusiastic, no-nonsense head coach who knows what it takes to win in New England.
Vrabel isn't afraid to speak his mind or let a player know when he's not doing his job correctly. Those characteristics have been lacking around Foxboro for quite some time, so frankly, it's pretty refreshing and should translate to wins.
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